Babocsay (2003) used multivariate morphometrics to investigate patterns of geographic variation in Echis coloratus in the Near East. Specimens from the northern part of the range (Dead Sea Basin and the Jordan Valley and surrouding slopes) were  found to differ from more southerly specimens (Egypt, Sinai, Wadi Arava, northwestern Arabia) by virtue of having fewer ventrals, more dorsal scale rows, larger eyes and pattern differences.  The northernf orm was therefore described as a new subspecies, Echis coloratus terraesanctae.

• Babocsay, G. (2003) Geographic variation in Echis coloratus  (Viperidae, Ophidia) in the Levant with the description of a new subspecies. Zoology in the Middle East 29: 13-32.